Although downspouts are an essential part of your home, they can detract from its architectural style and become an eyesore. Painting your gutter downspouts is a great way mask its appearance, as is placing vines or textured plants nearby. If all else fails, you can also replace your gutter downspouts with a stylish rain chain instead. With the right tools and a little work, you'll find the perfect way to blend your gutter downspouts in with the rest of your home.

Choose a paint color that matches the surrounding area. To help the gutter blend in, buy a paint color that closely matches the home's wall, plants, or other surroundings. If you're not sure which color to buy, take a picture of your exterior wall and bring it to a home improvement store employee for advice.[1]

For the best results, choose a paint that's made for metal objects.

Buy an exterior, not interior, paint that will withstand water and harsh weather conditions.

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Remove the gutter downspouts. Locate the downspout's rivets. They should be located near the bottom as well as along the sides. After loosening the rivets with your hands, pull the downspout out and set it over a tarp or layer of newspaper while you paint. Repeat for each downspout.[2]

Label all of the downspouts pieces with painter's tape and a marker to help you remember which pieces go where.

Clean the gutter downspouts with an oxygen bleach solution. Mix water and oxygen bleach in a bucket at a ratio of about 2 tablespoons (30 mL) of bleach to 1 US quart (0.95 L) of water, and rub it onto your downspouts with a dishrag. Let the bleach sit for 15 minutes, then spray it off with your garden hose.[3]

Do not use a pressure washer, as it will still leave behind a thin layer of dust.

If you notice any rust, sand it down with 180-grit sandpaper before painting the downspout.[4]

Add a layer of metal paint primer to your downspout's surface. Dip a bristle brush into the primer and apply a thin coat using long, even strokes. Work your way from one end of the downspout to the other until you evenly cover the entire downspout. Repeat on each downspout.[5]

Apply the first layer of paint. Dip your bristle brush in the paint and, working your way from one end to the other, coat the entire surface in paint. Work slowly, avoiding overlap as much as possible for an even coat.[6]

If you want to paint the back, wait for the first 3 sides to dry for 24 hours, then turn the downspout on its side and paint additional layers on the back.

If you're not quite satisfied with the color, apply additional coats of paint or try painting the downspouts another color.

Add 2-3 additional layers of paint. For a stronger color, apply 2 or 3 additional coats over the first layer, allowing the coats to dry for up to an hour between applications. After the last coat has dried, inspect the color. If it blends in well with the surrounding exterior, leave the downspouts on the ground to dry.[7]

Give the first coat of paint 30-60 minutes to dry before applying additional layers.

Put the downspouts back in place. After the paint dries, position each downspout in its place below the gutter and push each rivet back in place. After re-securing each rivet, let go of the downspout and check its positioning to make sure it's upright and centered below the gutter.[8]

Let the paint dry for at least 24 hours before putting the downspouts back.

Grow vines over the downspouts to blend them in with surrounding plants. To subtly disguise your downspouts with nearby plants, choose a small vine variety to trail down each downspout. Wrap the vines around the downspouts in the direction you want them to grow, which will train the plant to grow over the downspout.[9]

Aim for a vine with a maximum length of less than 15 feet (4.6 m) to prevent it from weighing down your spouts.[10]

Build a trellis in front of the downspout to disguise it. Trellises are a decorative, rustic way to cover downspouts. Buy or build a trellis and dig its posts into the ground over or near each downspout, positioning it upright and angled over the downspout's opening.[11]

Plant vines on your trellis and wind the roots around the wires to further obscure the downspouts and help blend your trellis with the plants near it.

Place a leafy plant to the side of the spout. A large, leafy plant can help obscure and divert attention from the downspout. Honeysuckle, "Morning Light" maiden grass, and fairy fuchsia are all great plants for disguising downspouts. Depending on your preferences, you can grow a plant in the ground or in a pot near the downspout.[12]

Do not place the plants directly in front of the spout, as this can lead to overwatering.

Although the textured plant may not completely hide the downspout, it can make the downspout less noticeable.

Remove the gutter downspouts. Before installing the new chains, locate the downspout's rivets, which should be located near the bottom and along the sides. After loosening the rivets with your hands, pull out the downspouts and store or discard it, depending on your preferences. Use the same method to remove each downspout.[13]

If you've never used rain chains before, do not discard the downspouts until you're certain that you prefer the new rain chains.

Rain chains are a series of metal links or cups chained together that catch water, much like a downspout, and divert it to the ground.[14] replace the downspouts only, not the entire gutter system.

Cut the gutter opening into vertical strips. Using tin snips, make lengthwise cuts along the circumference of the gutter opening. Cut just below the opening's top and through the bottom. The cuts should be about 1 in (2.5 cm) apart and resemble a "hula skirt" style.[15]

Attach a hanging bar to the top of the gutter opening. Place a hanging bar over the gutter opening's top and press it down with your hands until the bar rests over the top. Bend the gutter opening strips in towards each other to help keep the hanging bar from slipping out on rainy das.[16]

Hanging bars are metal "U"-shaped bars and can be purchased from most home improvement stores or online.

Connect the rain chain to the hanging bar. Rain chains usually have a link at the top that connects to hanging bar. Link the chain and the hanging bar together and run the rain chain to the ground, preferably near a landscaped area.[17]

Measure your old gutter downspouts to find the right chain length for your rain chain.

If you live in a windy area, anchor the rain chain to the ground with a rock or other heavy object.